I cannot believe it has been nine months already. Miss Livee is such a little ray of sunshine. Every time I go to the store I get stopped AT LEAST 3-4 times of people talking about her smile and her hair. Which is funny to me because yes she has a long patch on top which is always in a pony . . . but its not like she has a bunch everywhere else. But her smile is contagious. She LOVES flirting with people and waving to them so people seem to be drawn to her. She is SO cute but she also is a stubborn one. She WILL NOT take a bottle, sippy, or cup. This is becoming a problem for me. But at least she eats food! She is starting to get on her knees and rock when she is sitting up but still will not roll over or anything. She HAS rolled over a few times but she won't do it consistently to get around.
So at her check up a few days ago we got her stats which were :
Weight: 17lbs 7oz (20%)
Height:27.25 inches (50%)
Head Circ: 45.5 cm
Here's the problem. She has NOT gained ANY weight since 6 months. She went from being in the 90% to the 20th% so that is weird. Especially because she isn't moving. So that is worrying the doctor. So now we have had to put her on a high fat diet. I have to put melted butter and cream cheese in all of her baby food . . . which I don't like. I think she is just growing in stages personally but we will see. She needs to see some weight gain in a month. Also while we were there she informed me that she heard a "click" in her hips. Which I too have heard. So she set up an X-ray to look for a Hip disorder. That was scary. But we did the X ray yesterday and results came back normal . . PHEW. So now we are just watching it. Then I was recommended to start Physical Therapy with her. Because of her lack of movement. So we are doing an evaluation in a few weeks and we will test her to see if she is lacking muscle strength which is resulting in her not moving around . . . or if she has an attitude and is lazy. Oh joy. Lets just say I walked out of the Pediatrician a mess. Not fun. But we all adore her and cannot believe how fast time has gone. It's not fair.
So this year we decided to take a family trip to Disneyland and we did it around Araleigh's birthday. Let me just say . . . we had so much fun. We left on the 27th of Sept. and headed to Idaho . . . we got there pretty late because we didn't leave Spokane until 3:30. We got to Sugar and slept and the next morning we loaded the car up again --- with my mom and off we went to St. George. We got there at dinner time. The car ride was the only challenge to the entire trip. Livee did great and so did the kids. I was actually thinking it would be way worse. We were completely crammed in the car and had our car topper--- but we got everything in! We left Janalie's house the next morning and got to Anaheim around 5 I think. Sharee and her family got there at the exact same time. Our hotels were right next to each other so that was nice! That night we went grocery shopping and watched the Fireworks on the roof of Sharee's hotel. Our hotel had a kitchen in it as well and so it was nice to make lunch and breakfast. Our first day of Disneyland was so much fun ---- but OH SO HOT! It was 105* and poor Livee was miserable. We keep buying these spray fans to try and cool her off. At the end of the first day I asked the kids what their favorite part was . . . Araleigh said the roller coasters, Canden said it was the Buzz light year ride and driving the cars . . . . as for Cory and I the Parade was absolutely magical! My kids were in such amazement the entire time it made me a bit emotional. The whole time as my kids were waving frantically trying to get the attention of their favorite characters ... and laughing and dancing to the music --- all I could do was watch them and think of how grateful I was that we were able to bring them. We have been so blessed lately I am just so grateful that we are finally able to do fun things and create wonderful memories for our children and most of all for us. These are the days that I want to remember and cherish . . . and Disneyland was truly a magical place for the kids. Every princess . . . Minnie Mouse-- any other those characters the kids just lit up when they saw. It was truly a great time. As I said before the first 2 days were miserably hot. And poor Livee was just so miserable. We spent 2 days at DL and then went to the beach on the 3rd day. Cory thinks it was warm . . . I thought the water was freezing and barely got in. . . he also had a wet suit on so I don't think his opinion counts. It was a great time though. The kids absolutely loved the ocean. Araleigh and I spent a lot of time hunting for seashells . . . while Canden pretended he was surfing because the tide was so strong every time it would come in it would knock us all down almost. Livee and my mom stayed at the hotel for a relaxing time. Which I was so grateful for. She needed to catchup on her sleep. I do have to say my kids were really good. Such good sports they endured the long drive and hot weather and long days for 10 days. On Wed. it was Araleigh's SIXTH birthday!!! I hope it was a birthday she will never forget. We let her open her presents on Tues night. She got a camera and a princess dress with a birthday girl crown and some other toys. On Wed. we woke up and made her beautiful --- and got her in her dress and off us girls were to DL. We took her to Ariel's Grotto for the Princess Breakfast. Grandma Darla joined up with us Tues night so got to come with us. It was a great experience. Sharee, Londyn, Grandma Chrys and Darla all were there to celebrate with us. After breakfast and lots of pictures and autographs we met up with the rest of the family to start our day. I really hope that Araleigh felt like a princess--- because she is one! I have to say that the past 6 years have not only gone by fast --- but have been the best 6 years of my life. Araleigh is such a wonderful little lady. She is so amazing. She helps me so much and cares for others more than anything. I have many regrets as a Mother . . . but one thing I know is that even if I mess up or have made mistakes . . . I KNOW she will be amazing and do great things. She is loved by all who know her. She is still and will always be a Daddy's girl. She looks up to Cory so much. She is currently in gymnastics at and soccer with her friend Kyla and loves it. She has become quite a good little soccer player and I am starting to see a bit of the competitiveness come out of her. I hope that someday she will know how much we love her and cherish her and hope that we can help her get through any of the challenges that will come her way. I never knew unconditional true love until that night of Oct. 3 2006 when the most beautiful, dark skin, dark haired baby girl was placed in my arms. We have been through so much in her little life --- and I hope that in the end she will know and remember that she is a Daughter of Heavenly Father and we all love her so much. I am proud and grateful for the opportunity I have had to be her mother.
